Nick Scott
Age: 37
Airside Planning Supervisor
Denver International Airport
- Alma Mater: Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Something people may not know about me: Military brat that has visited 26 countries
- Favorite book: The Great Gatsby
- Favorite TV show: Anything on the Discovery Channel
- Favorite movie: Goonies
- Favorite hobby(s): Sports, Coaching Soccer
Does what it takes. Goes the extra mile. Goes above and beyond. These are some of the words used to describe Nick Scott in the applications sent in for his nomination to the 40 Under 40 list.
It fits well with what Scott enjoys most about his job at Denver International Airport (DEN). “I enjoy problem solving. We have a lot of moving parts going on here and questions that need to answered immediately,” he said. “My manager said I must be the King of Tetris, because I like playing with blocks and coming up with plans to make things work. It’s a challenging, yet fun game I get to play every day.”
Scott came by his love of aviation honestly, growing up as a military brat. “My stepfather was an Army pilot and my grandfather was in the Air Force,” he said. “I remember when my grandmother would take me to the base to see jets take off.”
After poor eyesight left him unable to be a commercial pilot, Scott moved over into the world of airports. “I like things that are fast-paced and changing, and that is airports,” he said. “My biggest fear is being bored, and that’s never been the case in aviation. We have to be on our toes all the time.”
As for the future of airports, Scott’s dream is to make airports even more of a gateway to the communities they serve. “Airports are the first and last impressions of a city seen by passengers. Airports should embrace that and be on cutting edge of everything,” he said. “I want to have passengers saying ‘Wow! I want to come back here.’”
Airports should not just be transportation hubs, said Scott. “They should also be places that people experience. Facilities should be top notch, clean, have the best amenities and be up to date on the latest changes for passengers’ demands,” he said. “We need to keep facilities at their best, along with being efficient and adaptable.”
